Pneumatic debagging machine



D. McDoNALD 2,568,244

PNEUMATIC DEBAGGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 sept. V18, 1951 Filed April 18. .1947

Sept. 18, 1951 D. MCDONALD PNEUMATIC DEBAGGINGMACHINE Filed April 18. 194'7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 18, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PNEUMATIC DEBAGGING MACHINE Donald McDonald, Dayton, Ohio, assignor of onehalf to Paul Frohe, Cincinnati, Ohio Application April 18, 1947, Serial No. 742,479

12 Claims. (Cl. 18-2) Thisv invention relates to an automatic debagging machine for use in the manufacture of tires. It is an object of this invention to provide a fully automatic debagging machine which is inexpensive 'and reliable in operation.

During the process of manufacturing automobile tires, it is standard practice to provide an element commonly referred to as a bag which is placed Within the tire casing during the molding operation and is thereafter removed from the tire casing for reuse. Considerable force isv required in removing the bag from the tire casing after the molding operation. It is an object of this invention to provide a pneumatically operated power unit for automatically removing the bag from the tire casing.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a simple arrangement for manipulating the bag engaging hook into and out of bag engaging position.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention reside in the construction and combination of parts and in the mode of operation as will be apparent from the following description, reference -being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

- Figure 1 shows the debagging machine in elevation and shows the tire, bag and associated parts in section. The control valves and the control valve operating mechanism are schematically shown in this iigure;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the debagging machine showing the arrangement of the parts upon completion of the bag removing operation;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the debagging machine showing the arrangement of the parts in the early part of the debagging cycle just after the hook has started to move toward bag engaging position;

is used in molding the tire designated by the reference numeral 22. The tire is held in place by means of movable jaw elements 24 while the bag is removed from the casing 22. The movable jaws 24 are operated by means of pneumatic means generally designated by the reference numeral 26. The pneumatic means 25 as well as the jaw elements 24 have been shown somewhat schematically as the specific construction of these elements does not form a part of my invention. The operation of the jaws 24 is controlled by the valve means designated by the reference numeral 28. A common operator 3!) is provided for operating the valve means 28.

The debagging machine comprises a bag engaging hook 40 which is pivotally carried by hook supporting element 42 which in turn is pivotally supported on the reciprocating piston rod element 44. Thus the hook 40 is rotatably mounted on the pivoted pin 43 carried -by the element 42 and the element 42 is rotatably mounted on the pivoted pin 45 carried by the element 44. The hook supporting element 42 may be pulled upwardly by means of the p-neumatically operated piston 46 mounted for reciprocation within the piston cylinder 48. The cylinder 48 is carried by the stationary support 49. The bag engaging hook 4U is moved into and out of bag engaging position by means of a pair of links 5i) which have their one end pivotally connected to the hook 40 at 52 and have their other end pivotally connected to the hook operating member 54 at 55. The hook operating member is in turn pivotally supported from the hook supporting element 42 at 58. The hook operating member 54 is manipulated by the piston rod 6U connected to the piston 62 (see Figure 1) operating within the cylinder 64 which is pivotally carried by the support 49 at 5I. A pair of spring biased latch elements 66 and 68 are provided for latching the Ahook operating member 54 in the position in which it is shown in Figure 1 or in the position in which it is shown in Figure 2.

The latch S6 normally holds the hook 4) and the hook operating member 54 in the relative position shown in Figure 1 during the debagging operation, but after the bag 2E! has been removed irom the casing 22 and the member 54 moves into the position in which it is shown in Figure 2, the latch 66 will strike the stationary stop 'le which causes the latch 66 to disengage from the pin l2 provided on the hook operating member 54. When the latch 55 releases the pin 12, the hook operating member 54 and the hook 40 are free to move into the relative position shown in Figure 2, but in this position the latch 68 will have engaged the pin 74 so as to hold the hook and hook operating member 54 in the relative position in which they are shown in Figure 2 until the pistons 46 and 62 begin moving the hook back into bag engaging position as will be explained more fully herinafter. The latch 68 remains in engagement with the pin 14 until the pistons 46 and 62 have been returned substantially to the original position shown in Figure 1 in which position the operating mechanism for the latch 66 will have automatically released the latch 68.

The latch 68 is non-rotatably secured to the pin T6 which is pivotally supported on the hook supporting element 42 as shown in the drawing. The pin i6 is operated by means of the lever 'i6 secured to the pin 16. The one end of the lever T8 is pivotally connected to the latch operating member 86 supported in the swivel block 82 which is pivotally mounted on the stationary frame 46. rhe free end of the latch operating member 86 is provided with stop means 84 which are instrumental in moving the latch 66 out of latching position as the hook support approaches its lowermost position. The latch elements 66 and 68 are both spring loaded into latching position by means of conventional torsion springs 6l' and 69 respectively. The relative movement between the hook supporting element 42 and the hook operating member 54 is further controlled by the lever` 96 which has its one end pivotally xed to the piston element 44 at 62 and has its other end slidingly mounted in the swivel element 94 pivotally supported between the spaced plates forming the hook operating member E4. A stop 96 is provided on the end of the member S6 so as to force the hook operating member 54 to return to the position in which it is shown in Figure 1 as the piston 62 is forced to the lower end of the cylinder 64. As the piston 62 moves down, the hook supporting'element 42 swings about the pivot 45 into the straight down position and as this takes place the distance between the pivot 92 and the swivel element 94 increases until the element 64 strikesy the stop 96 and thus forces the member 54 to move into the position in which it is shown in Figure 1.

The operations of the pistons 46 and 62 are controlled by the valves |66, |62 and |64. pressed air for operating the device is supplied to the valves |66 and |64 through the supply line |66. In order not to needlessly complicate the disclosure by showing details of construction which any mechanic could supply, the valve operating linkage mechanism has been Shown schematically.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, wherein I have shown the apparatus in a position ready to remove the bag from the mold, it will be observed that the valve 6|) is arranged in a position allowing air to ow from the source |66 into the lower end of the cylinder 48 so as to cause the piston 46 to be lifted which in turn causes the hook 46 to lift the bag out of the mold. It will also be noted that the valves |62 and |64 are then adjusted so as to connect both ends of the cylinder 64 to the air outlets |68 and ||6 which communicate with the outside atmosphere with the result that the piston 62 is free to move in the cylinder 64 as the piston 46 is pulling the debagging hook upwardly. There are two operators for the valve |64. Thus a linkage mechanism |26 shifts the valve |64 from a rst position in which it is shown in Figures Com- 4 1 and 2 to a second position in which it is shown in Figure 3 in response to the tire holding jaws 24 moving into the gripping position, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. The valve is returned to the first position by the operator l2 in response to upward movement of the piston extension ||4. Figure 2 shows the debagging machin-e upon completion of the bag removing operation and prior to the reclosing of the tire compress jaws 24. Upon closing of the compress jaws 24, the linkage mechanism |26 will reset the valve |64 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 3. This causes compressed air to ow from the source |66 into the upper end of the cylinder 64 so as to move the piston 62 and piston rod 66 downwardly. The latch 68 prevents relative rotation between the member 54 and the support 42 during the initial downward movement of the support 42. Shortly before the piston rod 66 approaches its extreme lowermost position, the valve operating rod |34 will shift the valve |66 into the position in which compressed air is fed into the lower end of the cylinder 48. The latch 68 then disengages the pin 14 so as to allow the member 64 to rotate on the hook supporting element 42 in response to continued downward movement of the piston 62 and piston rod 66. The air flowing into the lower end of the cylinder 48 causes the piston 46 to begin moving upwardly before the piston rod 66 has moved all the way to its lowermost position. This upward movement of the piston 46 and extension ||4 will cause the valve |04 to shut off the supply of air to the upper end of the cylinder 64. As the piston 46 moves towards its upper position, the valve operating member l2 carried by the extension ||4 provided on the upper end of the piston 46 will engage the valve operating linkage ||6 and cause said linkage to move the valve |64 into the position in which it is shown in Figures 1 and 2. With the valves |62 andY |64 arranged in the position in which they are shown in Figure 2, compressed air from the supply line |66 is free to flow through the valve |64 to the valve |62 which directs the air into the fiexible line ||8 leading to the lower end of the cylinder 64 with the result that the piston 62 will exert an upward pull on the hook operating member 54 so as to not only cause` the member 42 to swing about the pivot 45 and: into the position in which it is shown in Figure 2 but also to cause the member 54 to manipulate the tire debagging hook into the bag releasing position in which it is shown in Figure 2.

The valve |62 includes biasing means |63 for biasing it into the position in which it is shownl in Figures l and 3 and consequently remains in the position in which it is shown in Figure 1 until the piston rod 44 nears the end of its upward movement at which time the valve operating member 26 will be engaged by the ange |22 provided adjacent the lower endr of the piston rod 44. The member |26 then shifts the valve |62 into the position in which it is shown in Figure 2'. The debagging apparatus will remain in the position in which it is shown in Figure 2 until the next tire has been vulcanized and it is'desired to remove the bag therefrom, at which time, the valves 26 willl be operated by means of the manual operator 36 so as to shift the tire engaging jaws 24'. Upon shifting of the jaws 24, the valve operating linkage mechanism |26A willbe moved from the position in which itis shown in Figure 2 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 3. For purposesA of illustration, the mechanism |26 has been shown as operated by the jaws 24 whereas it could be operated in response to movement of the valve means 28 or the operator 30.

The above described movement of the linkage mechanism |26 moves the valves |00 and |04 from the position in which they are shown in Figures 1 and 2 to the position in which they are shown in Figure 3 with the result that air under pressure from the source |05 is directed through the valve |04 to the flexible connection |32 leading from the valve |04 to the upper end of the cylinder 64 and air in the lower end of cylinder 48 escapes through the Vent pipe |09. The air pressure in the upper end of cylinder 64 then causes the piston 62 to move downwardly and carry with it the hook supporting element 42 together with the parts carried thereby. As

the hook supporting element 42 begins to move downwardly, the valve operating element |20 allows the 'valve |02 to return to the position in which it is shown in Figure 3 whereby air in the lower end of the cylinder 64 is allowed to escape to the outside atmosphere through the valve |02 and the vent outlet |08. During the downward or return stroke, the latch 68 prevents the hook operating member 54 from returning the hook into bag engaging position until the mechanism nears its lowermost position at which time the stop 84 provided on the rod 80 will engage the swivel element 82 and exert a pull on the lever 18 so as to release the latch 60 from the pin '|4 and allow the hook operating member 54 to move the hook into bag engaging position. A predetermined time interval after the stop 84 engages the swivel 02, the continued pivotal movement of the lever 18 will cause the stop |36 on the upper end of the valve operating rod |34 to move the valve |00 from the position in which it is shown in Figure 3 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 1 whereby air under pressure will again be supplied to the lower` end of the cylinder 48 so as to automatically cause the apparatus to start out a new ydebagging cycle which is fully automatic until the bag has been removed from the mold and the hook moved out oi bag engaging position. The relationship between the rod |34, the stop |36, and the valve is such that upward movement of the rod |34 does not operate the valve |00 4and the initial downward movement of the rod |34 is inoperative to operate vthe valve |00 but towards the end the downward movement of the rod |34, the stop |36 will pick up the operator for the valve |60. A vent |40 which is always open is provided at the upper end of the cylinder 48 whereby the piston 46 is free to move upwardly at all times. It will be noted that the valve operating member ||2 carried by the extension l|4 is constructed and arranged to be ineffective to operate the valve operating linkage H5 as the extension ||4 moves downwardly but will operate the linkage :mechanism ||5 'as the operator ||2 moves upwardly past the linkage mechanism ||6.

By virtue of the above described construction and operation, it is apparent that when the tire holding vise is moved into the position which it occupies during the debagging operation, the control valves |00 and |04 will4 be actuated by the linkage mechanism |26 to the position in which they are shown in Figure 1. As a consequence of this movement of the valves |00 and |04, the debagging hookwillA be automaticallvmoved from the position; inwhich it is shown in Figure 2 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 1, at which time the valve |00 will have been moved to the position in which it is shown in Figure 1 so as to automatvically cause the hook 40 to remove the bag from the tire casing 20 and nally come to rest in the position in which it is shown in Figure 2 at the end of each debagging cycle.

The debagging cycle is fully automatic and begins with the apparatus from the position in which it is shown in Figure 2. The automatic operation is initiated when the linkage mechanism |26 moves upwardly so as to shift the valves |00 and |04 from the position in which they are shown in Figure 2 to the position in which they are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 shows the arrangement of the parts shortly after Ythe beginning of the cycle whereas Figure 1 shows the arrangement of the parts just after the hook 40 has moved into bag engaging position and after the valve |00 has been i shifted so as to initiate the return stroke or upward movement of the debagging hook 40. The debagging mechanism does not come to rest until the cycle has been completed at which time the parts occupy the position in which they are shown in Figure 2.

The construction and arrangement is such. that the hook 40 moves into bag engaging posi-- tion without the need for any guidance on thef Furthermore, the path ofi part ofthe operator. movement of the outer end of the hook 40 is: such that it is guided directly between the tire: 22 and the bag 20 without danger of injury to either one.

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the outlets |09 and ||0 are connected to a common exhaust line in which the valve H3 is located. By manually adjusting the valve H3, it is possible to regulate the rate at which the pressure is relieved from the cylinder 48 so as to cause the air pressure acting on the piston 46 to retard the downward movement of the piston 46 until the air pressure acting on the piston (52l will have moved the hook support 42 into alignment with the piston rod 44. The setting of the valve ||3 will also affect the speed of operation to some extent.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope ofthe claims which follow.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. lin an automatic debagging machine, a bag engaging hook, a hook supporting memben, pneumatic means including a piston and piston. rod for raising said hook supporting member,y means for pivotally mounting said hook supporting member on said piston rod, a hook operating member pivotally supported on said. hook supporting member, linkage means connecting said hook and said hook operating mem-- ber, and pneumatic means controlling the operation of said hook operating member to move: said hook from a first position in which said hoo-k is in bag engaging position to a second position in which said hook is held in bag re-l leasing position.

2. In an automatic debagging machine, a bag engaging element, rst pneumatic means for exerting a pull on said bag engaging element so as to remove a bag from a tire casing, a second pneumatic` means for thereafter manipulating vsaid bag engaging elementso as to move said bag engaging element into a bag releasing position, means for automatically controlling the operation of said rst and second pneumatic means including means for delaying the operation of said second pneumatic means until said bag has been removed from the tire casing.

3. In a machine for removing a tire molding bag from a tire casing, a bag engaging hook, a hook supporting element, pneumatic means including a piston and a position rod for reciprocating said hook supporting element, and automatic means including means carried by said hook supporting element for oscillating said hook supporting element relative to said piston rod so as to swing said hook into and out of alignment with the tire casing.

4. In a debagging machine, a bag engaging hook, a hook supporting element, automatic means for reciprocating said hook supporting element, and automatic means for oscillating said hook supporting element relative to said means for reciprocating said hook supporting element, said last named automatic means including means carried by said hook supporting element for oscillating said bag engaging hook relative to said hook supporting element.

5. In a debagging machine, a main frame, a bag engaging hook for removing a tire molding bag from a tire casing, a hook supporting element, rst automatic means carried by said frame for actuating said hook supporting element, and second automatic means carried by said frame for oscilating said hook supporting element relative to said actuating means, said second automatic means including means for rotating said bag engaging hook relative to said hook supporting element after the bag has been removed from the tire casing.

6. In a tire debagging machine, a stationary support, a rst cylinder means carried on said support, second cylinder means pivotally mounted on said support, piston means operatable Within said first named cylinder, a debagging hook, supporting means for said hook pivotally connected to said iirst named piston means, hook manipulating means including a member pivotally supported on said hook supporting means, and means for pivotally connecting said hook manipulating member to said second named piston means.

'7. In an automatic debagging machine, a bag engaging hook, a member for pivotally supporting said hook, means for raising and lowering said hook supporting member, means for imparting oscillatory movement to said hook relative to said hook supporting member whereby said hook is movable from a bag engaging position into a bag releasing position, first latch means for latching said hook manipulating member in bag engaging position, second latch means for latching said manipulating member out of bag engaging position, means for releasing said first named latch when said bag engaging hook approaches its upper position and means for releasing said second named latch when said bag engaging hook approaches its lowermost position whereby said hook is then freev to swing into bag engaging position.

8. An automatic debagging machine comprising in combination, a bag engagingl hook, a hook supporting element, first pneumatic means including a reciprocating piston means for reciprocating said hook supporting element, means for pivotally mounting said hook on said hook supporting element, second pneumatic. means,

means carried by said hook supporting element and operated by said second pneumatic means for rotating said hook relative to said supporting element, and valve means for controlling the operation of said :first and second pneumatic means.

9. An automatic debagging machine comprising in combination, a bag engaging hook, a hook supporting element, rst pneumaticl means including a reciprocating piston means for reciprocating said hook supporting element, means for pivotally mounting said hook on said hook supporting element, second pneumatic means, means carried by said hook supporting element and operated by said second pneumatic means for rotating said hook relative to said supporting element, and valve meansv for controlling the operation of said first and second pneumatic means, said valve means comprising a first valve for regulating the flow of motivating fluid to said rst pneumatic means, and second and third valves for controlling the operation of said sec.- ond pneumatic means, said second valve serving to supply iiuid for rotating said hook in the one direction and said third valve serving to supply fluid for rotating said hook in the opposite direction.

10. In a tire debagging machine, a stationary support, rst cylinder carried by said support, second cylinder carried on said support, rst piston means operable Within said first cylinder, a bag engaging hook, supporting means for said hook pivotally connected to said rst named piston means, hook manipulating means including a member pivotally supported on said hook supporting means, second piston means operable Within said second named cylinder, and means for pivotally connecting said hook manipulating means to said second named piston means, first valve means for controlling the supply of motivating fluid to said iirst cylinder for moving said rst cylinder means in the one direction, second valve means for controlling the flow of a motivating uid to one side of said second piston means for moving said second piston means in the one direction, and third valve means for controlling the ow of a motivating fluid' to the other end of said second named piston means.

11. In a tire debagging machine, a stationary support, rst cylinder carried by said Support, second cylinder carried on said support, rst piston means operable within said first cylinder, a bag engaging hook, supporting means for said hook pivotally connected tov said rst named piston means, hook manipulating means including a member pivotally supported on said hook supporting means. second piston means operableA within said second named cylinder, and means for pivotally connecting said hook manipulating means to said second named piston means, first valve means for controlling the supply of motivating uid to said first cylinder for moving said rst cylinder means in the one direction, second valve means for controlling the flow of a moti- 4vating iiuid to one side of said second piston means for moving said second piston means in the onedirection, and third valve means for controlling the flow of a motivating fluid to the other end' of said second named piston means, a vise for holding a tire casing, and means operative in response to movement of said vise for actuating said rst valve means.

12. Anautomatic debagging machine comprising in combination, a tire holding vise, a Sta.- tionarysupport, a first cylinder secured to. said support, a second cylinder pivotally mounted on said support, a rst piston means operable within said rst cylinder and including a piston rod, second piston means operable within said second cylinder and including a second piston rod, a bag engaging hook, a support for said hook pivotally connected to said rst named piston rod, hook manipulating means pivotally carried by said hook support, linkage means connecting said hook and said hook manipulating means, said hook manipulating means having one t portion thereof pivotally connected to said second named piston rod, a rst latch means carried'by said hook support for latching said hook manipulating means in a rst position in which said hook is held in tire engaging position, a first means for limiting relative rotation between said hook manipulating means and said hook support comprising a rod having one end thereof xed to the outer end of said first named piston rod and having its other end mounted for limited-i sliding movement relative to said manipulating means, a second latch for latching said manipulating l0 means in a position thereofpmeansfor operating said second valve in response to movement of said first piston means, said thirdvalve comprising connections for supplying fluid` der pressure to either 'endl of said second cylind' and means for operatin'gsaid third valve comprising rst means operable i response to movemn/ trof said vise and second means operable in response to movement of said ilrst piston means.

DoNAr-QCDONALD.

REFERENCES crrsn The following references are'bof'record in the file of this patent:

lUNITED STATES PATENTS Honderich Jan. 26, 1943 

